Ricardo Williams is currently the host of Nerd Nite Orlando and works as a designer, filmmaker, and musician. He also writes about culture, history, and US politics.
Nerd Nite Orlando returns to the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee on Thursday, September 14th, 7pm for the premiere event of season 11.
Nerd Nite is free and all are welcome.
PRESENTATION 1: “Why You Should Care About the Calories in Your Poop: Food, Gut Microbes, and Bioenergetics” by Karen Corbin
Dr. Karen Corbin is the Founder and Chief Geek of Geeks That Speak® and a clinical-translational scientist at the AdventHealth Translational Research Institute.
As a scientific storyteller, Dr. Corbin uses her skills to fill a fundamental gap for translating ideas into solutions: the inability of some scientists and other “geeks” to deliver information in a way that is impactful, relevant and inspires action. To achieve this, she created Geeks That Speak® with a mission to inspire and empower scientists to become powerful storytellers.
In her role as a scientist, her expertise is in human nutrition and metabolism. Her scientific career is devoted to understanding the mechanisms that drive metabolic diseases like fatty liver disease and obesity. One particular area of focus is understanding how to optimize the human gut microbiome to prevent and treat disease.
PRESENTATION 2: “More than a Feeling: The Neuroscience of Hanger” by Matt Luby
Matt Luby is a board member for the hackerspace FamiLAB in Longwood. His passions include neuroscience, distance running, and political activism.
PRESENTATION 3: “Putting Myself in Jeopardy!” By Ed Petersen
Ed Petersen is a lifelong Orlando resident and trivia enthusiast. He attributes his love for knowledge to his family, who early on reinforced the importance of learning via repeated trips to libraries, science centers, theaters, and museums here and around the world. In this, his fifth Nerd Nite talk, come learn how Ed achieved his long-running dream of getting on Jeopardy!
Nerd Nite Orlando returns to the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee on 7pm, Thurs, May 11th for the finale of our 10th season.
Sponsored by Sampaguita Ice Cream
Hosted by Ricardo Williams
Guest speakers: Hugo Castellanos, Jim Hobart, & Jonathan Pamplin
PRESENTATION #1:
“ADHD AMA: My Journey as a Newly Diagnosed Adult” by Jonathan Pamplin
After a lifetime of struggles with time management and focus, I was recently diagnosed with ADHD – at the age of 32! This left me with a ton of questions: What really is ADHD? Does it look different in children than adults? How do ADHD medications work? In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, join me on my in-progress journey to understand what makes the ADHD brain tick.
Jonathan Pamplin has variously worked as an assembly worker, writing consultant, freelance editor, roadside sign spinner, blueprint evaluator, substitute teacher, paranormal tour guide, and a special ed teacher’s aide. Unsurprisingly, he has ADHD.
PRESENTATION #2:
“Lights, Camera, Family: A Guide to Crafting Your Own Family Documentary, and Why It’s Essential” by Jim Hobart
This talk will focus on the technical considerations and sentimental value of creating a personal documentary of your loved ones, crafting your own treasured and irreplaceable keepsake that can be cherished for generations. Jim Hobart, the founder of Legacy Life Project, will share his passion for this meaningful undertaking and guide you through the professional process he uses to develop high-quality biographies. You’ll also learn about the importance of selecting the right interviewer to capture your loved ones’ unique stories and experiences, so you can get started on your own video documentary today.
Jim Hobart is a creative Orlando business owner with a passion for videography, stories, and a deep love for dogs. Jim came to realize the profound value of his own recordings of his loved ones after losing his father, and decided to focus his talent and experience on creating high-quality biographical documentaries through the Legacy Life Project. These video heirlooms capture the unique narratives and legacies of the everyday people who mean the world to us, preserving family histories for generations to come.
PRESENTATION #3:
“Stamped and Approved: The history of passports and visas” by Hugo Castellanos
Hugo is a Venezuelan-American engineer, podcaster and professional speaker that combines his engineering background and storytelling skills to educate, entertain and ultimately inform audiences in a wide variety of career development topics.
Hugo’s career trajectory includes cofounding an EdTech Startup, and serving as a Competitive Intelligence Manager for companies like Intel and LinkedIn.
Nerd Nite will return Sept. 8th at the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee.
PRESENTATION #1: “How Pokémon Helps Us Learn to Be Our Very Best Selves” by Daniel Kaufmann, Ph.D. (@DrGameology)
DESCRIPTION: Video games provide an amazing opportunity for us to learn about ourselves and what motivates us to pursue various kinds of goals in life. The Pokémon series of games is no exception to this. With each new region, players around the world explore far and wide to assemble a Pokémon party that feels special to them. This talk will review a few basic insights these games offer from a psychological perspective, and will share some models a person can explore to better understand what makes the play of video games become a fulfilling activity for them from a psychological perspective.
BIO: Dr. Kaufmann, PHD is an Assistant Professor, researcher, licensed counselor, Twitch streamer, and podcaster who focuses on using insights from video games and other fandom properties to aid our mental health journey and discover our strengths. His research on the psychology of player types has been presented internationally and continues to evolve with each new world players can inhabit across PC’s and consoles. He also continues to share a never-ending analysis on who we become when we play games at fan conventions, in published books, and through collaborations with other professional who share a passion for video games and the messages they offer each of us who play!
PRESENTATION #2: “A brief taxonomy of ‘Speculative Fiction’ SUBGENRES… major historical variations, evolutions＆innovations” by Ben Forbes Griffith
DESCRIPTION: “Science-Fiction”＆“Fantasy” are merely the most obvious, oversimplified for “genre” fiction bookstore cataloguing, and recently increasingly mainstream tip of a very deep＆broad “iceberg” of imaginative worldbuilding by a plethora of significantly diverse authors!Learn how to tell if your Sci-Fi is “hard” or “soft” or if your Fantasy is “high” or “low” or grimdark, and so much more! If your awareness of “punk” style speculative fiction subgenres is limited to Cyberpunk 2020 or some Steampunk cosplay you saw at a festival with some dapper mustaches＆top hats, elaborately customized goggles, and elegant Victorian clothes, then this is precisely the talk you need to seriously punk up your fiction intake!
BIO: Ben Forbes Griffith is just another middle-aged nerdy intellectual with too many hobbies and never enough time for them all… His day job paying the bills in recent years is as a web-developer, but he is a former history teacher and lifelong learner who spends much of his free time happily dwelling in the past (or in fantastical worlds of his own imagining); toward that end, he is an insatiably curious bibliophile, experienced tabletop-roleplaying gamer, and aspiring creative writer. Twitter = @BFGriffith
Kick off season 10 of Nerd Nite with us this Thursday, August 11th at the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee.
PRESENTATION #1:
“The Nuclear Niche: Fungi that Survive and Thrive in the Heart of Chernobyl” by Matt Luby
The resilience of many species of fungi to various adverse conditions has been known to biologists for many years. It is only in the past three decades that we have begun to evaluate the ability of some fungi to not only survive extremely high doses of harmful radiation, but also to tap into it as an energy source. We’ll discuss not only how it happens, but what we might be able to do with our knowledge of this unique adaptation.
PRESENTATION #2:
“Blood & Treasure: Modern Politics and the Golden Age of Piracy” by J.D. Casto
We tend to think of pirates as bloodthirsty thieves, brutal rapists, and vicious murderers, concerned only with indulging their every whim and amassing as much wealth as possible, forever living at the expense of others. And this is absolutely true. However, in some ways, pirates were strangely ahead of the societal curve. In fact, some of their viewpoints would be heartily endorsed by liberal politicians today – health insurance for all, democratic elections (typically without collusion), and even gay marriage. This presentation will focus on the incredible true stories of pirates and their modern policies.
Join us tonight for a special pop-up Nerd Nite at Bynx Cafe. Enjoy presentations from some of your favorite Nerd Nite speakers Max Jackson and Jimmy Waldron.
Speakers include: Eliza Harris Juliano Jimmy Waldron Max Jackson
Hosted by Ricardo Williams
Thursday, August 12, 2021 @ 7pm Stardust Video & Coffee 1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32803
PRESENTATION #1: “How Would Yoda Vote?” by Eliza Harris Juliano
Eliza is the Director of Urbanism at Canin Associates, where she helps communities and developers build and rebuild neighborhoods where walking or biking to run an errand or go to school is a safe and pleasant experience.
PRESENTATION #2: “The Most Awesome Dinosaurs You’ve Never Heard Of” by Jimmy Waldron
Meet six incredible and bizarre dinosaurs that changed everything for paleontology—and not even your kids know their names!
Jimmy Waldron is the host and creator of Dinosaurs Will Always Be Awesome, on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. In DWABA, Jimmy and his cohost Kat meet scientists, artists, and researchers around the world to tell the stories behind the bones of your favorite dinosaurs. Soon, you can see Jimmy on Conan O’Brien’s podcast – “Conan Needs a Friend”. This is Jimmy’s third talk with Nerd Nite Orlando, and it’s going to be awesome!
PRESENTATION#3: “What I Learned From 5 Years Without Drinking” by Max Jackson
For some people alcohol is a fun vacation from an otherwise-okay baseline state of mind. For others, like me, alcohol can become a coping mechanism or a crutch, or something even worse. It took a lot of trial and error for me to figure that out, until on August 13th 2016 I quit drinking for good. Everything about my life has changed since then as a result, and I’ve learned a lot that I think is really worth talking about. Do I think everyone should quit drinking? (Nope). Do you need to get religion to quit drinking? (It’s fine if you do, but also nope). Have I learned some things that I think can help make anyone more resilient and compassionate in their lives? (Absolutely).
On Thursday, May 6th at 6pm join us at the Orlando Museum of Art for a special event and see the work of artists all across Orlando who have shown what it means to be a nerd in the age of popularity.
The band Soulbase will be performing live and renowned storyteller Aquanza Cadogan will also be in attendance.how to get a quick 1000 dollar loan.
Food will be provided by Romay Ethiopian Kitchen and The Greenery Creamery will be there as well to sell delicious ice cream.
Join us on April 11th for a special outdoor event at Stardust Video & Coffeeto celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first human to journey into outer space. #YurisNight
We have one last NERD NITE before we close out 2020. Join us tonight as we talk Florida Man, Florida manatees, and why the Mandalorian has succeeded where the Star Wars films have not!
We also have a very special guest. Laura Chaibongsai, marine scientist and boss of Nerd Nite Miami, will be joining for tonight’s online event.
“hard” or 
“soft” or if your Fantasy is “high” or “low” or grimdark, and so much more! If your awareness of “punk” style speculative fiction subgenres is limited to Cyberpunk 2020 or some Steampunk cosplay you saw at a festival with some dapper mustaches＆top hats, elaborately customized goggles, and elegant Victorian clothes, then this is precisely the talk you need to seriously punk up your fiction intake!
